Fuzzy, Foggy, Forgetful, & Frankly Frightening!

[LoriTabitha]

Hi there!

My name is Tabby & I’m new to this forum, but unfortunately not new to fibromyalgia, along with a cornucopia of other health issues. On the maternal side of my family, many of us have immune disorders which usually ignites any other issues lying in wait.

I developed type 2 diabetes in my 30s. I quickly got my blood sugar under control without medication or insulin, but was left with macular degeneration, glaucoma, peripheral neuropathy, partial kidney failure, Raynaud’s & more.

My first known fibromyalgia symptom was unexplained foot pain at age 21. That was in the 1980s & to “fix” the issues they did surgery on both feet, cutting into & extending the tendons attached to my fascia to supposedly help my “plantar fasciitis.” Needless to say, that made things much worse.

It took decades for a correct diagnosis, via a boatload of doctors, specialty clinics, therapies, medicine, treatments & mistakes.

I finally had things on an even keel & was managing my pain & sleep schedule as best I could around 2010 or so. I was having problems remembering specific words but it seemed to be getting better.

Then one day my cousin sent me a text with photo of a bag & asked if I’d left it at her house the prior weekend. She lived a couple hours away & it terrified me to realize I’d driven to her place, attended a big family party, came back home & remembered absolutely none of it. There was a piece of peach pie in my fridge I’d brought home. My doctors didn’t seem concerned (!) but I was, so I started doing memory exercises daily. That was about 8 years ago or so. Now it’s gotten so bad I can barely remember some things in my daily life, I can’t remember articles I’ve read or video I’ve watched most of the time. I read or watch things multiple times to retain what I’ve learned It’s hit or miss finding anything in my house & I’m just not sure what to do. I’m only 55 years old, so this started in my 40s. Is this the typical fibro brain fog or am I dealing with something else? I don’t really know who to ask at this point.

I don’t have any extra money (I get $1250/mo in Social Security Disability, & thankfully I just found out I will now qualify for a small state retirement fund, but it’ll be several months before it’s cleared & I’ll have to hire someone to do the paperwork. I don’t know if I would have understood the lingo before my fibro kicked in or not, but now I don’t comprehend any of it.

I have Medicare & a prescription plan (that doesn’t cover much these days), so I don’t have access to any medical stuff that these things don’t cover. Unfortunately I don’t have friends or family who know how best to handle this situation because it’s fairly unique.

First off, can any of y’all with brain fog explain to me what it’s like?

Next, if mine is more severe, does anyone have any experience/advice for:
•Type of Specialists or Tests
•Treatments
•Medication/Vitamins/Minerals
•Diet
•Environmental changes

Thank you for any advice you can provide.

 

[seniorzala]

Dear Lori,
Since autoimmune syndrome has already occured in the Family,i would like a systeme autoimmune Lab panel.

 

[sunkacola]

Hi Lori, and welcome to the forum.
It sounds to me as if your memory problems are far more severe than they usually are with fibromyalgia, although this syndrome is widely varied in how it affects people so it may not be anything more than the fibro.

I would, however, strongly recommend that you go and see your regular doctor and tell them all about this and have them refer you to a specialist who deals with loss of memory issues, because there's no other way to know what is causing this. This visit may cost you co-pay or whatever, seeing a specialist or having tests, but what you described sounds serious enough that you really need to have this examined. This is your life we are talking about and while I can relate to not having much money, you cannot avoid having a serious condition checked out because you don't have much money. There is always a way to get it done and to pay for what you have to pay for. It could be something simple that could be treated with diet change, supplements, or medication. It could be something serious needing medical intervention. But whatever it is, you need to know!

No one here can recommend to you what treatments or dietary changes you should use or make because none of us are medical personnel and even if we were we would have no idea what is going on with you. It is unwise to decide for yourself that this is fibromyalgia related without having yourself screened for other things that could be causing it. Make an appointment and go see your doctor about it as soon as possible.

 

[seniorzala]

Anamnezis+Clininal examination+Labor panel =Diagnosis.
There is nothing without these.
In rapidly progressive disaese as soon as possible.Then you can choose /Allopathy/Homeopathy/ayurveda/Acc...
The net often misleads...
Senior

 

[JayCS]

Hi Lori,

I agree with Sunkacola and Senior that this is something that needs serious checking because it sounds different to the normal brain fog that'd come with your fibro. On the one hand you've written very clearly with difficult words, on the other you have frequent memory loss. An autoimmune bloods/lab panel like Senior suggests might be a good start cos of your family history. Another idea would be a neurological check. But even more likely I'd like the peripheral neuropathy suspect it's a further consequence of your type 2 diabetes.

I don't have much brain fog, but there's lots of supps for that, most of which I take for others reasons.

 

[Phoenix boy]

Hello Lori,
I've recently been diagnosed with fibro, I'm 55, was also diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis at the age of 25, onset was 21 though. I have some other auto immune conditions, too. Although I'm not banding fibro with those.
Yes I suffer from brain fog often. More during the evening. I have issues with concentration, also effects my short term memory, too. Some of it would be attributed to age, as well. Short term memory that is. I also drop things, like cups or plates. It can be hell at times.
I've suffered from brain fog since my A.S diagnosis, so I'm not really sure whether it's related to fibro or not. My fibro type pain seemed to appear around 10 years ago or so, more of an all over type pain, maybe the best way to describe it, compared to my A.S pain.
I also work night shifts, but I'm not prepared to stop working as yet, due to it helping with my mental health. as i actually enjoy my work most of the time & feel fortunate that I do.

 

[johnsalmon]

what you describe is not simple brain fog it is more serious and you should talk to your doctor - if your doctor is not concerned then see another doctor

 

[Phoenix boy]

I have and it's related to my A.S, something I've put up with from the age of 21.